When they arrived at the training grounds, it was quiet. It seemed the usual crowd of guards had given way for the private lesson. Khayri was comfortably sitting on the side lines while Nima was in a sword fight with one of the head guards. It wasn’t long before they were served with something to drink as they watched the training.

Nima might have not seemed like it but even just watching him, Kamaria could tell that it was years of hard work that went into every swing. It was no wonder that Khayri was always so relaxed with such a person at his side.

“Big sister asked what I wanted for my birthday didn’t she?”

“I remember no such thing,” said Kamaria as she peered over her coffee cup.

She could already tell that her brother was up to no good. Even granting her the title of big sister was suspicious on its own. He only ever addressed her as such when it involved something troublesome. They continued watching Nima and the head guard fighting and Kharyri happily continued.

“Well, I’ve thought about it and decided what I wanted.”

Clearly, he was about to ignore her protest and she simply raised her eyebrow, waiting for what was about to come next. Inviting her during a training session meant whatever he had to say couldn’t be heard by anyone else.

“I’ve heard that the next town over boasts one of the best courtesy inns on par with the Blue Butterfly. So, since the Blue Butterfly’s become boring because all the annoying Officials go there, and big sis knows I love any type of performance…”

“Like the you’re one putting on right now?”

Lili refilled the cup after Kamaria put it down. They were all now anticipating this request because it seemed the more they let Khayri talk, the more the request escalated.

“I thought we could pay this inn a visit for the night,” said Khayri with a broad smile.

Kamaria almost choked on her coffee, but she managed to keep it down with beautiful skill. As she was recovering, Nima had the guard land on his back with a sword at his neck.

Though the spring sun was shining overhead the air was still crisp, but they were both sweating, visibly trying to calm their breathing as the dust settled. Khayri clapped a few times as Nima offered the guard a hand to help him stand.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of watching him,” he commented, while turning back to Kamaria.

“So says the person who’s also supposed to be training. You’re only here to stare at Nima.”

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“Beautiful things are meant to be appreciated. Which brings us back to the topic of the inn. So how about it?”

“How would I be any fun at a courtesy inn? It would be more proper taking your noble peers,” stated Kamaria in her usual soft voice but her brother was not falling for it.

“Blergh, first of all, very few of these pretentious bastards are actually my friends and secondly please don’t ever associate me with such uninteresting company.”

Khayri smiled while saying so as if it was an honour to be considered as someone who had questionable acquaintances.

“So, we prepare to leave for my private villa a week after my birthday banquet, big sister. I’m sure the empress won’t mind getting rid of us even if it’s a few days. Make sure to pack a few good trouser outfits,” he insisted as he stood up.

Khayri happily skipped down the stairs and walked towards Nima who was now alone in the arena. He momentarily glanced back at his sister without the brilliant smile from before which she didn’t seem to notice but Nima did.

“Don’t worry,” he assured his prince.

“I’m not worried habibi,” said Khayri while moving away the matted hair on Nima’s forehead.

His expression contradicted the playful tone he used while insisted he wasn’t worried. Besides Kamaria, there was probably no one else the empress wanted gone more than Khayri. Why would she want anyone who could contend with her sons for the throne?

In Khayri’s case, he had thrown himself into just enjoying his life which mostly consisted of attending all sorts of banquets and finding entertainment in the most obscure places.

As a prince he had no outstanding merits except securing his colourful reputation as a generous wandering idler known in all social circles. In doing so, he was considered rather useless by the empress, and she barely had to bother with him.

In contrast, Kamaria had lived so quietly but still found herself subject to such harsh treatment. They were never close before so he didn’t notice but now it made him wonder how much she had silently endured.

The way she could keep up her graceful façade even though she had to be in pain was too wonderful to the point of being scary. It was not a skill learned overnight. She needed more than a trip of a few days, but it was the best he could do with his abilities.

Kamaria could only slightly shake her head while trying to figure out the entire situation. Her youngest brother was a known social menace, but she thought he was a bit of a mystery as well.

He did have the reputation of being an idler who did nothing but attend fun social events, but she noticed that he knew everything there was to know about anyone that mattered.

“Princess is not really considering this is she?”

Kamaria looked up at Lili and smiled and the attendant knew that trouble was coming.

“I’ve never been to a courtesy inn before,” she commented as she turned to pick up the cup again.

Considering that they would have permission to leave the palace grounds, going anywhere else after that would be much easier. It would be even better to be in a place where they were sure no one could recognise them. So many things to do and foods to explore.

“Dearest Lili, I fear that we might be in for some exciting entertainment.”

Lili considered that the siblings were just different sides of the same coin, one caused the obvious chaos while the other could silently start a war.

The two of them collaborating on any idea was nothing but asking for a calamity of epidemic proportions to descend upon the people.